Fire screen hinge



March 10, 1942 T. w. BARRY FIRE SCREEN HINGE Filed March 11, 1941 i mum bow TJ/c'M/IS 34 5/9/92) Patented Mar. 10, 1942 FIRE SCREEN HINGE Thomas W. Barry, Louisville, Ky., assignor to Peerless Manufacturing Corporation, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application March 11, 1941, Serial No. 382,835

1 Claim.

This invention relates to fire screens, and more particularly to a novel construction for hingedly connecting the folding guard sections.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical form of construction which is easy to make and assemble, thereby materially reducing the cost of manufacture while at the same time providing a substantial and effective joint between the relatively adjustable guard sections. In that connection one of the features of the invention resides in forming the hinge so that adjacent corners of the guard sections remain relatively close together when the sections are angularly adjusted so as to maintain a. close fitting joint at the hinge which will prevent sparks from passing through the screen at this point.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of adjacent guard sections connected by the present hinge. I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1, showing the guard sections in angular relation.

Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Similar references designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawmg.

According to the embodiment illustrated, the invention includes a screen comprising the guard sections A and B, consisting of suitable hollow frame parts I which carry the wire screen or other mesh 2.

As will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, the hollow frame sections I are preferably of rectangular formation at the end opposite the point where the screen or mesh 2 is held thereby. That is to say, the end walls 3 of the frame of each guard section are preferably at right angles to the opposite front and rear side walls of the frame. Within the related included angles of the said front and rear walls and the adjacent abutting end walls 3, there is provided a pintle or fulcrum rod 4, one rod being provided for each frame section, and preferably extending the full length or height of the frame, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. These rods may be welded or otherwise fixed in position.

At spaced intervals the adjacent corners of the frame members l! are notched, as indicated at 5, the out extending over a portion of one rear face of each frame and also over a portion of an end wall 3, thereby to expose the fulcrum rods at selected intervals. The purpose of this cutting away or notching of adjacent corners of the frame members is to permit the said frame members to be hingedly joined or connected by a ring, loop, link, or the like, 6. This ring or loop may be of any desired crosssectional shape suitable for the purpose but is preferably in the form of an annulus, and in the embodiment shown partakes of the nature of a cylinder because of its relative depth or length. However, it will of course be understood that these characteristics may be varied so long as the member 6 performs the function of hingedly connecting the adjacent frame sections 1-! through the medium of the fulcrum rods or pintle elements 4.

As will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, the construction described permits of the relative angular adjustment of the sections A and B about one corner of the end walls 3 of the frame members. When the guard sections are thus angularly adjusted, it will also be seen that the corners of the frames are maintained in substantially contiguous relation to avoid any substantial gap or space between the sections when they are angularly adjusted before a fireplace opening. In this way the closeness of the frame sections is maintained to avoid the passing of sparks or embers which would otherwise reduce the eifectiveness of the screen.

The present construction is particularly advantageous from a manufacturing standpoint since it eliminates the use of bolts, screws or other fastenings which not only add to the expense of manufacture and assembly but frequently come loose in use. The fulcrum rods 4 may be readily placed in the hollow frame sections I after they have been notched at the corners and before they are brought together about the edges of the wire screen or mesh 2. In this case the ring element 6 may be made of split formation to facilitate assembly with the rods 4.

However, these rings may also be one-piece tubular members, out from tubular sections of appropriate diameter, and then placed in the notches 5-, after which the rods 4 may be pushed into position through a hole or notch in one end of the frame and then secured in final position. If desired, one or more of the rods may be long enough to extend through or project above the top of the frame to receive an ornament, such as a ball or knob.

Without further description it is though that the advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form and construction may be made within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A hinge construction for folding screens comprising contiguous hollow frame members having angularly related side and end walls and provided at their inner adjacent corners with a series of spaced apart open notches, pintle rods seated inside of said hollow frame members and. within the said inside corners thereof, and an open link extending through said open notches at each location thereof and embracing the pintle rods at such locations, substantially as described.

THOMAS W. BARRY. 

